Red Mansion Huacai

Chapter 155

On the fourth day of July, Li Weijian sent someone to inform Rongguo Mansion that he would be returning soon. After living apart for more than a month, not to mention that the second girl and Daiyu were not used to seeing each other every two or three days, even Jia Mu was a little worried about Brother Jian.

Because he sent the steward and sent four carriages to pick him up, at noon on the fifth day of July, Li Weijian sent Fu Qiufang to his residence first, and then returned to Rongguo Mansion.

After not seeing each other for more than a month, Li Weijian chatted with the old lady for a while. He told some witty jokes, which made the old lady jump back and forth with great joy. The old lady immediately said that she would add a few more dishes in the evening, which was regarded as taking over for Li Weijian.

Just after he came back, Li Weijian always wanted to walk around. The eldest master, Jia She, was extremely eager. He exchanged greetings and asked about Qiu Wei. Then he changed the subject and said, "My dear nephew, I heard from Lian'er that there are some stocks going to be listed for sale recently?"

Li Weijian secretly wondered, could it be that the eldest master is rich again?

As if he knew what Li Weijian was thinking, Jia She coughed and said, "I'm just asking a few old relatives for this."

I understand, this is because I have no capital, so I just want to earn a bridge toll by being a broker?

Li Weijian smiled and said: "Uncle Shi must have read the newspapers these days. Yes, the government has bought all the Xishan coal mines and is now preparing to form a coal mining company."

Jia She was immediately moved. Although I suffered a big loss on the water supply stocks, I can reflect on it afterwards and realize that if I couldn't do the borrowing and lending, I could make a good living by holding on to that stock in my hands. I was still too eager before... Well, it's all the fault of King Zhongshun!
  After secretly cursing King Zhongshun in his heart, Jia She said with half a smile and half a dull face: "My dear nephew, I wonder how much this stock is worth?"

Li Weijian said: "It's probably a plate of five million taels, and the shares put out for sale are only about two million. Calculating that the interest rate is similar to that of water affairs, it will take twenty years to repay the capital."

Jia She frowned and said: "The plate is so small, and there is no need for wealthy people from other places. The nobles in the capital can be counted together. The same goes for the saints and the inner government. When doing such good things, they must always think of the nobles first. Where can I get the advantage of wealthy foreigners?"

Li Weijian smiled and didn't answer. If he was just a noble person, this guy would definitely complain that he was too noble. With wealthy people from other places, these noble people will be willing to spend their money.

After complaining, the drama finally came. Jia She said: "My nephew, do you have any new stock in your hands? My nephew, don't think too much. I'm asking for my old relatives. I can't let my nephew." If you suffer a loss, even if it changes hands, it will be based on the market price.”

market price? Li Weijian had three-thirds of the shares in his hands, and the market price was only [-] taels. He really looked down on such a small amount of money. Moreover, coal mining stocks have huge potential in the future, and if they are put on the market right now, they would be fools! Not only did Li Weijian not plan to sell, he also planned to buy some more privately for future appreciation.

Because Li Weijian shook his head and sighed: "Uncle Shi thinks highly of me. When the water project was first launched, the sage gave me some shares. Now that this person has already figured out how to manipulate the inner government, why do I need to offer suggestions? This is no credit. , a saint wouldn’t give me his stock for nothing, would he?”

"No?" Jia She was immediately disappointed and blurted out: "I didn't expect the saint to be like this -"

So what? Harsh treatment or careless treatment? Finally, Jia She held back and didn't say anything.

The eight thousand taels of silver owed previously were probably enough. Trying to trick Jia She further would be just the icing on the cake and is really unnecessary.

The elder Jia She suddenly lost interest. After saying a few words, Li Weijian stood up and left. He went to look for Jia Zheng again. Mr. Jia Zheng was as usual. Li Weijian couldn't talk to him, so he left after sitting for a while.

Since there was a new nanny in the house, Daiyu, Sanchun and others were in class at the moment. Li Weijian went back to the northeast and went to the small courtyard to think about it. He thought that he had not visited his teacher Yan Xiyao for some time, and it was still early. , Li Weijian took a car to Yan's Mansion.

I haven't been here for ten days, but things have changed in the Yan Mansion. In the garden on that side, the towering Newcomer Gate has long been demolished, and a pavilion has been installed in its place. After asking Yan Fengzhen, I found out that this was reserved for new steam engines.

Yan Xiyao was receiving guests at this moment, and Li Weijian waited for a long time before the steward ushered him into the study.

"Resurrection is back?"

"Yes, the teacher looks good. I expect everything will go smoothly recently."

Yan Xiyao smiled and said nothing, pointed to the chessboard on the table and said, "Fusheng will play a game of chess with me."

"This...student is stupid and only knows the basics of Go." Seeing Yan Xiyao looking over with a smile, Li Weijian had no choice but to cup his hands and say, "In this way, you will be embarrassed in front of the teacher."

After a while, a big dragon was beheaded, and Yan Xiyao joked: "Resurrection is the only way to be humble, but I really only know the surface."

Li Weijian smiled and said indifferently: "This is not my student's ambition. Instead of spending time studying chess, why not free up time to think about the practical learning of creation."

Yan Xiyao nodded and said: "I previously thought that Fusheng was just a step forward through practical learning. Recently I heard Jing Wen say that Fusheng actually built a new steam engine, and I was shocked to realize that Fusheng is both good at being an official and good at doing things."

"The teacher is rude."

"There's just one thing -" Yan Xiyao dropped the chess piece and said, "The scholar named Wu in the previous series was obviously used by me to make Jing Wen weak. I didn't want to kill Li Fusheng halfway."

"Ah?" Li Weijian quickly explained: "The students are thinking that the teacher has a lot to do, so naturally the disciples will do their best for such small things."

Yan Xiyao waved his hand: "That's all. Next time I look for an opportunity, I will let Jing Wen have more experience."

Li Weijian cupped his hands and said, "Next time, students, please pay attention."

Yan Xiyao nodded slightly, picked up the chess pieces and threw them into the urn, saying: "Chess is only meaningful when you meet your opponent. It's a pity..."

Li Weijian said: "If the teacher doesn't dislike it, the student is actually good at backgammon."

Yan Xiyao would ask what Gobang is, but unexpectedly Yan Xiyao frowned and thought for a while before saying: "Gobang? Such a remote way of playing, from which ancient book did Fusheng learn it?"

Li Weijian was extremely surprised and asked hurriedly: "Teacher also knows backgammon?"

Yan Xiyao said happily: "I'm afraid there was this backgammon before there was Go. I was fond of reading in my early years, and I saw it in a miscellaneous book. There were records of this backgammon in the Wei and Jin Dynasties. I still remember how to play it, since Fusheng is good at it. Tao, then let’s play backgammon.”

It turns out that backgammon has been around for a long time.

The chess pieces were gathered together, and the two guessed their numbers and started playing backgammon again. Li Weijian was quite good at this, and he took the white lead, so he stopped using the double move three.

After dropping a few coins, Yan Xiyao said: "With Fu Sheng's practical knowledge, I'm afraid I won't be able to teach Fu Sheng anything. What I can teach is nothing more than tactics."

"Ploy?" Yan Xiyao smiled and nodded: "I have been in officialdom for thirty years, and I have some experience. I have summarized the ten tactics of power. Do you want to know about my resurrection?"

Li Weijian hurriedly handed over his hand: "I was about to ask my teacher for advice."

"One of the ten techniques of strategy is the art of balance."

Li Weijian heard the string and knew its elegant meaning: "The way of the emperor."

"Exactly, balance between left and right, internal and external, this is the way of an emperor. In the previous dynasty, Emperor Chongzhen mistrusted the Donglin Party, which led to an imbalance in the government. After that, the chief ministers were changed every few months, but it was difficult to restore the imbalance. This was the reason for the imbalance in the government. Therefore."

Li Weijian nodded. Although he was generalizing from a partial point of view, there was indeed one point.

He knew that this first item was just an appetizer, and the next one was the main meal.

Sure enough, I heard Yan Xiyao say: "In addition to the art of balance, there are also yin and yang, virtuality and reality, tortuousness, long and short, odd and correct, advance and retreat, concealment, borrowing force, and letting go of power." After a pause, Yan Xiyao said: "Let's talk about it first today. This is the art of yin and yang.”

"Teacher, what is the art of yin and yang?"

"When you are alive, you must have read "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms". In it, Liu Bei meets Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty. Cao Cao wants to act like a king. In order to control people's hearts, he borrows the emperor's arrows to kill his prey when he is hunting. He never sees clearly, thinking that the emperor has shot him. Immediately shouted long live.

Later, there was a clothing edict. Liu Bei used yin to plot, and yang to tie it up. Only after that could he "break open the iron cage to escape the tiger and leopard, and suddenly open the golden lock to escape the dragon." "

"Students are taught."

Li Weijian II was a man, and all his tactics and tactics were gained through practice and never summarized. Now after hearing the advice from my mentor Yan Xiyao, I suddenly felt a sudden enlightenment. Later, Yan Xiyao talked about the other eight skills, and Li Weijian couldn't help but feel grateful. This is the relationship between master and disciple.

Unlike the information explosion of later generations, this kind of information is readily available. At this time, these tactics can be called dragon-controlling skills when used properly, and dragon-slaying skills when used reversely. It is not allowed to be heard except between master and disciple, father and son.

In the middle of a game of backgammon, Yan Xiyao talked about the tactics of strategizing, and then said: "Recently, I look at Fusheng like a headless fly. One moment he is busy with the steam engine, the next he is busy with the artillery frame, and the next he is playing with the latex. Fusheng has something in his heart. It’s a strategy, I don’t expect it to be without aim, could it be that Resurrection has other plans?”

Li Weijian smiled and pointed at the chessboard and said, "Teacher, what do you think are the characteristics of my chess moves?"

"There is peace and tranquility, and there is rarely a murderous spirit."

But Li Weijian said: "I do more work two in this game, and rarely rush into three or four. This is too much work two, and the teacher will naturally not be able to figure out my way. Only in this way can I wait for the situation."

As he spoke, he picked up a white piece, and after settling on it, murderous intent suddenly appeared. It was clearly an idle piece from afar, but it was accidentally connected to two people. Yan Xiyao pondered for a while and quickly intercepted, but it was too late. However, seven or eight men showed up with four or three kills, and Li Weijian won.

Yan Xiyao relaxed his brows and nodded repeatedly: "That's right, it's okay if Fusheng has some concerns in his mind."

Li Weijian seems to be throwing a hammer here and there a mallet these days, but in fact he is all preparing for the implementation of the industrial revolution. The steam engine provided the power, the differential stabilized the power, and the rubber provided sealing and tires. I just returned today and will be busy tomorrow.

One was to see what happened to the latex that had been transported thousands of miles away, and the other was to go to the Armed Forces Academy and try to have Chief Chen build a steam engine of the same size out of cast iron, and then scale it up.

I'm afraid that the Armed Forces Academy will be too busy soon, and there is no possibility that the imperial court will establish a separate yamen to specialize in the production of steam engines.

After the game of chess was over, Yan Xiyao waved his hands and lost interest in continuing to play chess. The two sat opposite each other with tea in hand. Li Weijian said: "Teacher, the recent situation in the court..."

"Don't worry, the game in the court is not a fight between reckless men on the street. How can the winner be determined overnight?" Yan Xiyao said with a smile: "Besides, many times we can only distinguish between strong and weak, and the outcome will not be determined for several years. Woolen cloth."

Li Weijian thought: "Is the teacher practicing the art of concealment?"

"Ruzi can be taught."

Now that Chen Hongmou is the dominant one, the saint is naturally uneasy. He originally expected Yan Xiyao to step up and compete with him in the ring, but he didn't expect that the thunder was loud and the raindrops were light. Yan Xiyao watched for a while, but he still didn't see any action. Recently, the saint has become more and more impatient, and he may not choose another person to compete with Chen Hongmou.

At that time, Yan Xiyao will leave an impression on the saint. This person is a lonely minister, and he can't even form a party, but he still does his job sincerely. Once this impression is left, it cannot be changed easily. In this way, Yan Xiyao becomes a tumbler. No matter how the court is shaken, he remains motionless.

On this day, the master and the apprentice had a great conversation. Yan Xiyao was in a good mood and specially left Li Weijian to eat. After coming out of Yan's house, Li Weijian immediately understood Yan Fengzhen... The master's craftsmanship, well, the appearance is pretty good. The rest is just...hard to describe.

Anyway, this was the first time in Li Weijian's life to eat sweet pork ribs.

Returning to Rongguo Mansion by car, just after turning around the Imperial City, there was a sudden bustle ahead. Wu Haiping quickly reined in his horse and observed for a long time before saying: "Sir, it looks like a gangster is arresting someone."

"Ok?"

Li Weijian opened the curtain and took a look, and saw a person standing on the roof of the three-story teahouse. There were many people gathered below. From far away, a person in charge of clothing shouted: "Sun Shouliang, I have traced the case." How can I let you run away when I see you? I advise you to just surrender, otherwise——"

The manager winked at Fanzi beside him, and Fanzi came back carrying a child from the carriage behind him. After taking out the rag from the child's mouth, the child immediately cried: "Dad, dad! Wuwuwu——"

The manager then said, "Sun Shouliang, even if you don't think about yourself, you still have to think about your children."

The people on the roof yelled curses and danced the iron swords in their hands to make it airtight. The approaching fans had no choice but to circle around them. Later, there was another gunman holding a short blunderbuss, but his aim was false and he never pulled the trigger.

"Sir, do you want to take a detour?" Wu Haiping asked.

Li Weijian stood on the shaft of the car and shook his head: "It's rare to see someone arrest someone, let's see how exciting it is."

While he was talking, the roof tiles suddenly shattered, and the man screamed and fell from it into the third floor. After that, there was a lot of shouting and shouting inside, and after a while, several bandits were seen kidnapping the man and taking him out.

He hadn't seen it on the roof just now, but after taking a quick look, Li Weijian suddenly became suspicious. This person is actually related to him!
  The man had an ordinary appearance, wearing a blue shirt, but had a heart-shaped rouge birthmark on his left cheek!
  Li Weijian became more and more curious as to what crime this person had committed. Counting the last visit from the Criminal Division, it was more than ten days ago, and it was not until now that this person was arrested and brought to justice. I am afraid that this person is very involved!
  (End of this chapter)